Hockey question (comment) from Rod Pedersen's Blog!!?

To go along with what Bob said, this tournament pits the elite against the elite.

On average, most GOOD junior teams will send 3-5 players to the NHL. So, a junior game between two good teams will have 5-10 potential NHLers at best.

In the case of a world junior championship game between the top 7 (Can, Usa, Swe, Fin, Rus, Cze, Svk) will have anywhere between 20 and 40 potential NHLers.

The hockey is also a lot better than a Canadian Junior game as well.

Having seen thousands of junior games in my life, I'll take a WJC game over a Memorial Cup game any day. But as with last year, I'm more interested in the Spengler Cup in my old age. Although I may make the drive to Ottawa for a game or two this year.

A lot of people dont have quick and easy access to Major Junior hockey-the nearest teams might be several hours drive away-plus its a chance to see the top players from each of the 3 Junior leagues,and a chance to check out the top junior players from around the hockey world-and its become a Canadian tradition on Boxing day to watch the junior team-much the same as watching all the college FB bowl games on new years' day in the US.

The tournament starts on Boxing Day, it's on TV, usually in Europe (so perfect for that late morning/early afternoon holiday meal period), and it runs for a 2-week period during the festive season (when a lot of people are taking time off). There is an element of tradition involved.

Instead of rooting for a local team, it's the chance to support "our" country's team, which is always going to push viewing audiences up. An OHL game between two GTA teams has a small window of interested folks, but for people rooting for Team Canada, that number expands over the entire country.

Plus, as Bob and LITY have noted, it's the best against the best. A lot of these guys will be playing in the NHL.

I will probably watch the WJC game tonight and just flip over to RSN during commercials to see how the Leafs are doing.

In short...better competition, national pride.

It's an elite tournament.....the best of the best.....it is a Holiday tradition....it is patriotic, a chance to cheer your country on............

Also, it doesn't apply to the CHL team in my town because they draw 7000+ per game since their inception.

I think the patriotic angle has alot to do with it......would you drive across town to watch a swim meet? No. If it was on TV with a Canadian swimming in the Olympics? Possibly.

You couldn't pay me to watch the Canadian women play in a league game but I'll watch them in the Olympics is another good example. This tournament is more popular than the IIHF Men's World Championship....future NHL stars that aren't yet tainted by the almighty dollar......meanwhile, a normal CHL league game might feature a star or two per team.

The scouts and GM's love this tourney as well.....a chance to see their draft picks and possible future draft picks play in a higher caliber game where they are playing for something....the pride of their country.

Honestly, I don't know why Rod Pedersen (who?) has a hard time understanding it. Seems logical to me.